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Checkbook Sheet and Interventions and Consequences

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Checkbook Sheet

Your checkbook balance is your money. It is not real money, but it works in the same way. You can use it to purchase additional foods, drinks, privileges, and many other items you may need or want. You may only purchase privileges if you have a positive balance above $0.00 on your checkbook sheet. A negative balance (below $0.00) is known as "in the hole." Maintaining a positive balance allows you to be eligible to purchase privileges i.e. play station, movies, etc.

You are responsible to know the whereabouts of your checkbook sheet, pencil, and eraser at all times. You will receive consequences if they are left unattended. You are expected to keep your pencil in the pencil caddy when not on your person.

You will need to record each earning, purchase and fine immediately and figure the balance for each transaction.

Write the initials of the staff member who issued you the feedback, fine, or purchase outside of the space provided for staff’s initials.

It is important that you record each transaction accurately and that it is signed by staff.

Ask staff (politely) to verify each transaction by signing in the space provided.

You are responsible for checking back on your fines, before the end of the shift in which you received them, failing to do so will result in consequences.

You are responsible for checking back with the staff person whom you need to sign your feedback and completing your math after each transaction.

If you lose your check book sheet you will receive a new checkbook sheet with the previous day’s balance and a $25.00 fine.

Interventions and Consequences

Fines

When you receive a fine for inappropriate behavior, you are expected to write it down immediately. When you are given interventions and consequences that you don’t want to hear, it is important that you remain appropriate so that you will have more opportunities to earn feedback for responding in an appropriate and respectful manner. You will be given the opportunity to earn some of the money you lost by interacting the fine with the staff member who issued it to you. You are responsible to check back with the staff member that issued the fine to you and interact it by discussing the inappropriate behavior you displayed, what you could have done that would have been appropriate, the reason your behavior was inappropriate, the motivation behind your behavior, and what the consequences were for your behavior.

In the Hole

A negative balance (in the hole) should be indicated with parenthesis ( ) around the balance on your checkbook sheet. When you are in the hole, you will be expected to do something to earn your way back to a positive balance. It is important that you follow the program.

You are expected to do extra chores, copy work, think work or homework while you’re in the hole.

The task you are assigned to help you get out of the hole/negative will be determined by staff.

You may not purchase any privileges while in the hole, such as TV time, group activities, radio, and extras at meals or free time.

You may make and receive agency calls. You may receive personal calls.

You may purchase haircuts when you are in the negative/hole.

You may not talk to other residents until you are out of the negative/hole.

You must ask staff permission before leaving your assigned area.

Restrictions

You may be restricted from using or having an item if you misuse or destroy it, i.e. combs, brushes, toilet paper, books, cleaning supplies, clothing, pencil, etc. Restrictions will be reviewed weekly by administrative staff.

Activity Restriction

You may be restricted from participating in activities as a result of inappropriate behavior, for medical reasons, or due to wearing the safety smock. Activities include but are not limited to: basketball, volleyball, dodge ball, calisthenics (PT). Non medical restrictions will be reviewed Monday, Wednesday and Friday by Administration. Medical restrictions can only be removed by your doctor or the facility nurse.

Cool Downs

Cool downs are used when you become agitated, frustrated, are disrupting others, or not following instructions. You may request a voluntary cool down or staff may instruct you to take a cool down. If a staff member tells you to take a cool down, you are expected to go immediately to the area designated. Cool downs allow you the opportunity to calm down and regain your composure. Each cool down will last 15 minutes.

After you have regained your composure, staff will discuss alternative behaviors with you and then you will return to normal activities and continue your day. You are allowed 2 staff instructed cool downs per shift before day room restriction is issued. Voluntary cool downs (which you request) will not count against you for day room restriction unless staff determine you are using them to avoid participation in school or assigned activities. If you use cool downs for extra sleep time, your bedtime that evening will be 2030 hours/8:30 p.m. to ensure you get the rest you need and you will not be eligible for buy-up/late night on the following weekend. If you refuse to go to a cool down or have to be physically helped, a security procedure will be called and additional consequences will be issued. Cool downs cost $1.50 and are recorded as a purchase on your checkbook sheet.

Room Rotation

Room rotation is utilized when two or more residents are not to have contact with each other. When you are placed on room rotation, you take turns with the person(s) you are not to have contact with rotating between being in your room and being on the floor with the other residents. If you are serving Day Room Restriction or Permanent Day Room Restriction during any portion of your turn to be on the floor with the other residents, you will forfeit your turn on the floor. Room rotation is determined by Administration. There are two different types of room rotation.

No-Contact Rotation: is assigned when you and another resident are not to have contact because you are both involved in the same pending court case. The privileges you receive while on no-contact rotation are dependent on your level.

Behavior Rotation: may be assigned when staff have concerns that you and another resident are having difficulty getting along, are feeding into each other’s negative behaviors, or may be a result of past relationships outside of the facility i.e. rival gang members. If you are on Behavior Rotation your expectations and privileges will be the same as Day Room Restriction.

Day Room Restriction (DRR)

Day Room Restriction is used when a youth is unable to manage their behavior, is continuing to act out and being generally disruptive, getting far behind on school work, and not responding to less restrictive alternatives such as teaching interactions or cool downs. When a resident is on DRR, they complete all school work and eat all meals served in their assigned room. While a youth is on DRR, the room door shall remain unlocked unless a Security Procedure is called or their behavior begins to deteriorate. Youth will receive positive feedback on their checkbook sheet for following DRR expectations. DRR is assigned in 1 hour increments. If you fail to follow DRR expectations, your assigned time may be extended and/or you may be assigned lock down time. Day room restriction is an opportunity for you to avoid lock down.

Permanent Day Room Restriction (PDRR)

Permanent Day Room Restriction (PDRR) is utilized when residents have continual problems following the program expectations, (i.e. having contact with persons of the opposite sex, continually attempting to have contact with co-respondents in their case, passing notes of an inappropriate sexual nature, making comments about attacking staff or escaping from the facility, demonstrate poor self control and unacceptable boundaries, their behavior is disruptive and threatening, etc.) Residents will follow the same expectations and have the same privileges as those outlined above for DRR. Placement on PDRR will be reviewed weekly by administration. Residents on PDRR will need to show consistent and significant improvement in their ability to follow the program to be removed from PDRR.

Expectations (DRR and PDRR)

Stay in your room.

Ask permission before leaving your room.

Stay on task with assigned activities, i.e. school work, reading, copy work, or other approved activities.

Do not talk to youth outside of your room.

You will be allowed to take cool downs.

You are not allowed to sleep.

Your door may be propped completely or partially open depending upon your behavior.

You will be offered the opportunity to clean your room.

You will not be allowed to complete any other chores.

You are not eligible for commissary.

You may be assessed a question deposit if you begin asking excessive questions.

You will receive a DRR check in report. (The check in report is an opportunity to receive feedback for following expectations on DRR).

You will complete a youth thinking report (YTR) before exiting DRR. Your YTR will need to be approved by staff.

Privileges (DRR and PDRR):

You may receive agency or personal phone calls and visitations.

You may make agency calls.

You may make personal calls at staff’s discretion if your balance is in the positive.

You may receive 30 minutes of activity time.

You may apply condiments to your food while being served.

You may receive 2nd servings of fruits, vegetables, and bread.

You may have your pencil in your room to work on school work or copy work.

Permanent Day Room Restriction (PDRR)

Permanent Day Room Restriction (PDRR) is utilized when residents have continual problems following program expectations (i.e. having contact with persons of the opposite sex, continually attempting to have contact with co-respondents in their case, passing notes of an inappropriate sexual nature, making comments about attacking staff or escaping from the facility, demonstrating poor self control and unacceptable boundaries, behavior that is disruptive and threatening, etc.) Residents will follow the same expectations and have the same privileges as those outlined above for DRR. Placement on PDRR will be reviewed Monday, Wednesday and Fridays by Administration. Residents on PDRR will need to show consistent and significant improvement in their ability to follow the program and complete an acceptable Thinking Report in order to be removed from PDRR.

Lock Down

You may be placed into lock down for any of the following reasons:

You are out of control.

Refusing to obey reasonable and lawful requests.

Behaving in a way that presents a threat to self or others.

How do I get off Lock Down?

The amount of time you spend in lock down will depend on you.

If you are following expectations then you will be eligible to complete a Youth Thinking Report (YTR) to demonstrate you understand the facility’s expectations and are ready to follow the program.

Once you complete an acceptable YTR, you will be able to exit lock down.

The decision about whether a YTR is considered acceptable or not is determined by Administration. If you do not complete an acceptable YTR on your first try, you will be provided with as many opportunities as necessary to complete a satisfactory report.

Expectations

You are expected to respond appropriately to staff.

Reading and school material may be allowed if your behavior is appropriate.

Shoes, socks, sweats, pencils and checkbook sheets are not allowed in your room.

If you choose to vandalize your room (i.e., damage to walls, sink, toilet, or bed) , a police report may be filed.

Prior to staff entering the room for meals, medication, etc., you will be expected to lie face down on the bed while locking your hands behind your head

When you are in lock down you will not leave your room except to shower, exercise, attend scheduled court appearances, or other necessary appointments.

You will be offered 30 minutes of individual exercise each day.

If you have proven to be a security risk, you will be handcuffed and shackled when exiting lock down to shower, complete hygiene, attend agency visits, agency phone calls, and complete the 30 minutes of exercise time.

If you do not follow lock down expectations while in lock down, your time will be longer.

Restraints

Our goal at DCYS is to not have to restrain youth. If your behavior escalates to the point that you are creating an unsafe environment for everyone, a security procedure will be called. Once the security procedure is called, all of your peers will be removed from the area to ensure their safety and provide you with some privacy while you try to regain your composure. We will request that you move to an assigned room under your own power. If you continue to refuse to move or act in a threatening manner toward others, you will be restrained. While you are restrained, staff will place you in handcuffs, leg shackles or flex cuffs so that you can be transported safely to a room. You will only be restrained or remain in restraints as long as it takes staff to move you into a room and ensure that you are safe. You will be placed in lockdown until you can successfully complete a Youth Thinking Report.

Grievances:

If there is a situation that occurs that you disagree with and you have followed the chain of command starting with the staff member involved, and still feel that the issue has not been resolved, you may file a grievance. You may obtain a grievance form from staff to complete outlining your grievance.Once you have completed the form, please turn it in to any staff member so it can be forwarded to Administration for review.Your grievance will be reviewed with you by someone in Administration.